Cessna 206 accident near Swikshak Bay, Alaska, September 12, 1993
On September 12, 1993, a Cessna 206, registered N9707Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swikshak Bay, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1993
- Place
- Swikshak Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N9707Z · no longer on the register · serial U20606617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED TWO OTHER AIRPLANES TOOK OFF FROM THE SLOUGH JUST BEFORE HIM. HE WAS THE LAST TO DEPART AND MADE HIS TAKEOFF RUN DOWNSTREAM ON THE SLOUGH. HE LIFTED OFF AT 50 TO 55 KNOTS AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE JUST AFTER LIFT OFF. THE PILOT STATED HE KNEW THE WATER WAS VERY SHALLOW AND TRIED TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT UNTIL REACHING DEEPER WATER. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO THE SLOUGH AND THE FLOATS STRUCK A MUD BAR AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE WIND WAS CALM. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES DURING THE TAKEOFF. THIS WAS A BUSINESS FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14CFR91 BY A FISHING LODGE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1993; 231 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Port Alsworth AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.